Pivoted breech block pistol with a three-pronged biasing spring



Aug. 24, 1948. J. a. ROWSMITH 2,447,891

PIVO BRE BLOCK PISTOL WITH A RONGED BIASING SPRING Filed Nov. 23, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet l &\\

ug, 24, 1948. J. GjARRow lTH 2,447,391

PIVOTED BREECH BLOCK STOL WITH A 5-PRONGED BIASING SPRING 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 23, 1944 Aug, 24, 1948. J. G. ARROWSMITH 2,447,891

PIVOTED BRE BLOCK PISTOL WITH A 5-PRON BIASING SPRING Filed Nov. 23, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 g J. G. ARROWSMITH 2,447,391

PIVOTED BREECH BLOCK PISTOL WITH A B-PRONGED BIASING SPRING Filed NOV. 23, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 24, 1948 oFFicE PIVOTED BREECH BLOCK PISTOL WITH A THREE-PRONGED BIASING SPRING Application Nouemberf23, 194.4, Seri al.No..,'5B5i,783 jIn .Greaffiriitain November 23,1943

9 Claims. i

This invention has reference to pistols and has particular reference to "pistols for-usein stunning animals preparatory to slaughtering.

One object of theinvention is to provide a pisto! which can be taken to pieces easily-and quickly to enable access to be obtained to "the working components of the firing and extractor mechaniszns.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pistol having firing and extractor mechanisms to which access can be obtained and which mechanisms can be removed easily and quickly for cleaning, replacement or other maintenance purposes.

Another object of the invention is to ensure that, if any of the component parts of thepistol is assembled incorrectly, the final assembly of the pistol cannot be carried out.

Still another object of the invention is to ensure that the means for extracting a spent cartridge from the barrel of the pistol may "be actuated automatically and with certainty by movement of a breech block after each shot has been fired.

Yet another object of the invention is to'provide a special spring for loading various operating components of the firing and extractor mechanisms and to ensure that such spring can be fitted only in its correct predetermined-position and cannot become unduly slack by inadvertance.

It is also an object of the invention to-provide a device for locking any assembly bolts, pins or studs securely, quickly and easily in the pistol body so that they also cannot become slack or be removed inadvertently.

Further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description which is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, which show a pistol for use in stunning animals preparatory to slaughtering:

Figure l is an elevation showing the pistol of my present invention in its-normal or lired position.

Figure .2 is a sectional elevation'of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a similar :viewto Figure 1, but shows the safety actionbetweenthe hammer -and breech block.

Figure 4 is-a similar view to Figure -2,but-shows thehammer fully cocked-and the extractor about to be released from the breech block.

Figure 5 is a section on the "line -A-A, Figure Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of the barrel portion of the pistol showing the same detached from the grip portion of the pistol.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of the grip portion of the pistol showing the same detached from the barrel portion of the pistol.

Figure 7 -is an elevation and Figure 7- is a plan, on an enlarged scale, of the spring for actuating various parts of the mechanism which are carried in the barrel portion, and

Figure 8 is an elevation of a device for locking the barrel portion and grip portion in their assembled relationship.

The pistol consists of -a barrel portion I and a grip portion '2, said two portions being retained in their assembledrelationship by bolts-3 and 4. The bolts 3 and 4 aresecuredby nuts Ewhich are themselves locked against movement by a plate 6 carried on one side of the barrelportion -l and hav-ingan aperture anda-recess which fit around oragainst the nuts 5.

The barrel portion I comprises the barrel 1, in the breech end of which a block 8 is removably housed, and integral depending side cheeks 9 between which abreech block I'll, an extractor II and a hammer F2, are Journalled.

The breech "block W is cut away or recessed, at l lib, at its underside .and 'is provided in the said recess w'ith a sleeve M which sockets on to, and is rotatable around, a pin 13 extending between-and removably mounted in, the side cheeks 9 of the barrel portion I. The extractor H is rotatably mounted upon the said sleeve and is formed-on its underside wit-ha jaw or notch H;

l the said extractor is also provided with a toe 48 which projects forwardly or muzzlewards of the said jaw 11. Anextractor operatingpawl I5 is pivotally mounted at one end upon a pin [5b inthe recess I llband at the'heel lta of the'breech block rear-wardlyof the extractor. The said-pawl IEis located in the plane, and projects below the underside, of the extractor I I and is provided on its upper edge witha tooth it which, when the pistol is in its normal or fired position, engages with the extractor jaw ll. 'The arrangement is such that,-as-the.breech block I 0 is turnedabout the spin l3 away irom the block 8, the pawl i5 is moved bodily forwards or muzzleWa-rds and actuates the extractor. A stud it extends through one .of the sidecheeks '9 of the barrel portion 1 into-the path of an inclined-nose I 50. formed-on the free end-of the-said pawl l5 andas the latter is moved bodily forwards -or muzzlewards by the pivoting movement of the breech block H) away from the block fl, thesaid nose abuts against and travels under the stud 8; the pawl is thereby depressed about its pivot pin |5b in the heel of the breech block ID to take the tooth l6 gradually out of engagement with the jaw Two fiat or substantially flat faces 2|' and 22 are formed on the lower journalled end of the breech block Ill, the said faces being disposed at right angles to one another, and, together with the arcuate union between their adjacent ends, are adapted for engagement by a spring for retaining the breech block Iii resiliently in any of its alternative positions. The breech block In also slidably accommodates the firing pin 23.

The hammer I2 is journalled upon, and extends below, a separate pin l9, the lower end of said hammer being bifurcated and each bifurcation thereof being slotted longitudinally as at 2!].

Lugs 24 and 25 are provided respectively on the front of the hammer I2 and the rear of the breech block I 0 and serve as a safety device when the breech block I0 is withdrawn from its face to face contact with the block 8.

I he grip portion 2 of the pistol comprises the handle 26 and a superimposed platform 21, the latter being formed with a lug 28 at its forward or muzzle end and another lug 29 at its rear or breech end, the said lugs 28 and 29 being adapted to make a close fit between the side cheeks 9 of barrel portion l, and to receive the assembly bolts 3 and 4.

Slidably carried upon the platform 27 is a sear rod 30, the rear or breech end of which is pivotally connected to the bifurcated end of the hammer l2 by a cross pin 3| engaging the slots 20, whereas the forward or muzzle end of the rod 30 extends into a hole 32 in the lug 28 and is formed with a hook-like nose 33 adapted to engage the tooth 34 of the trigger 35. A collar 36 is fixed upon the sear rod 30 and is adapted to ride along the upper surface of the platform 21 for maintaining the rod in its correct alignment when the pistol is cooked or fired. A coil spring 31 is carried around the rod 30 and is compressed between the lug 28 and the collar 36.

The trigger 35 is assembled in a slot 38 formed in the lug 28, and is pivotally mounted on a pin 39 which is retained in position by the cheeks 9. A spring loaded plunger 48 housed Within the forward or muzzle end of the platform 21, abuts against the trigger below its pivotal mounting and tends to turn the trigger in the direction which takes the tooth 34 thereof towards the hole 32 so that the tooth 34 engages the hooked nose 33 of sear rod 30 automatically when said sear rod is taken into the slot 38.

A three-pronged spring 4| is mounted on the lug 28 of platform 2'! by a screw 42. This spring consists of a single length of wire and is formed with an eye 43 for receiving the shank of a screw 42. The head of the latter is of such a depth that, when the pistol portions and 2 are in their correct assembled relationship, the crown of screw 42 abuts, or closely abuts, the underside of the barrel 1 so that the said screw cannot be slackened inadvertently, for example, by the shocks or vibrations resulting from the firing oi the pistol, and allow the spring 4| to become loose upon the lug 28.

The spring 4| comprises three prongs 44, 45 and 46, which extend from the lug 28 towards the rear or breech end of the platform 21 and bear, respectively, against the breech block ID, the extractor H and the pawl l5. The central or extractor prong 45 of spring 4| is formed by folding the wire upon itself and by coiling each portion of the fold upwardly, as at 41, before one side merges into the lateral or pawl prong 46, and the other side merges into the eye 43 and from the eye into the other lateral or breech block prong 44. The breech block and pawl prongs 44, 46, respectively, are so spaced apart that, when the pistol portions and 2 are assembled, said prongs are located close to the adjacent cheeks 9. The eye 43 of spring 4| is offset relatively to the longitudinal centre line of the complete spring so that unless the said spring is correctly assembled to the lug 28 with the coils 41 uppermost, it is impossible for the said prongs 44 and 46 to pass between the checks 9. The heel of the pawl prong 46 is located below the level of the eye 43 and is adapted to abut against the lug 28. Hence, as the screw 42 is screwed down, the prongs of the complete spring cannot be taken inadvertently out of alignment with the components IO, N and I5, against which they are required to bear, due to the final tightening of the screw 42.

Further, the diameter of the coils 41 is such that they are adapted to bear against the underside of the barrel 1 and, therefore, are unable to move upwardly when the central extractor prong 45 is stressed upwardly by the turning movement of the extractor [I under the action of the pawl l5 and, hence, the said prong 45 can operate without aifecting the operation of the two lateral prongs 44 and 46.

The breech block prong 44 presses against the underside of the breech block ||l against one or other of the straight edges 2|, 22, or against the convex arcuate junction therebetween, and serves for retaining the said breech block resiliently in any position in which it is set, the retention being more secure when the prong 44 engages one of the said edges 2|, 22. The central prong 45 bears upon the upper edge of the toe 48 which projects forwardly or muzzlewards from the extractor H and the prong 4'3 bears on the underside of the pawl l5 and tends to retain said pawl tooth I6 in engagement with the extractor jaw H.

The nut-locking plate 6 has a lever 49 hinged thereto adjacent its forward or muzzle end. The plate 6 is formed with apertures 50 and 5| through which the stud l8 and the hammer spindle |9 project. A jaw 52 is formed in the upper edge of the plate 6 and the spindle l3 carrying the extractor II and breech block I!) extends therethrough,

The head of the stud I8 is formed with a peripheral groove (see Figure 5), and the ends of the spindles l3 and 9 are formed with peripheral grooves (not shown), these grooves in the ends of said stud and spindles being adapted for engagement by jaws or notches 53, 54, and 55, respectively, provided in the upper edge of the lever 49 when the latter is swung into overlapping relationship to the plate 6 for positively retaining the said stud 8 and spindles I3 and I9 against longitudinal movement in the cheeks 9. For rctaining the lever 49 in its overlapping relationship to the plate 6, the latter is formed with holes or depressions 5B which are adapted to be engaged by complementary protuberances 51 from the underside of the lever 49, and this engagement is such that it can be broken only by some suitable tool being applied to an ear 58 on the lever 6 and levering the tool about the nut 5 or some other fulcrum point on the pistol.

To load the pistol, the hammer I2 is cockedv arran er.

bahanict from the position shown in Figure. Ito: the position shown in. Figure 4. During this apera tlon, the sear rod; 31]? is slid forwardly or muz- ZIEWBJ'dSL by the: bifurcated end of! the. hammer IE; the: spring 31' is compressed; and the hooklike? nosez 33; of said sear rod. is engaged by the trig er tooth 34%, thus: retaining. the rod 30 andv hammer I2 in their cocked position The: breech block Ill isthen hinged away from the: block 8,. again by hand, to. a position beyond that. shown. in Figure 4'. when a cartridge may be inserted into the block 8. During this operation, thepawl ls5 is driven forwardly or muzzlewards' so that, during the initial movement, the extractor I I travels. automatically with the breech block: I6; As. the. pawl: l5. moves; itsnose. contacts and then rides: under the stud I8 and it is turned about its pivot: pin against the spring prong 4G and the tooth I I5 ls gradually withdrawn from engagement with: the extractor jaw I7 until; as shownin Figure 4; the engagement: is: severed and the extractor" Iii is returned automatically to its initial position? against the block 8 by means of the spring prong 4 5. Thus, when the cartridge is inserted into the block 8; the rim around its'head is able to engagebehindi the recessed free-end of the extractor I I.

Before the cartridge can be fired, it is necessary to return the breech block 58 to its initial position. Otherwise the release of the hammer I2 by pulling the trigger causes the 111g 24 to strike the breech block I ll above the lug 25 thereon and to engage the latter and lock the breech: block id and hammer I2 in the safety positions shown in Figure 3.

It, however, the breech bloclr Ill has been returned previously to its initial position against the bl'oclt 1T, thereby enabling the pawl I5 to' be re-engaged with the extractor jaw H, the releasing of the hammer I2 enables the latter to be driven by thecompressed spring 31 against thefiringpin 23=to explode the cartridge in bl-ocl': 8. The" empty cartridge in block 8 is removed automatically from the block 8 by the extractor I I when the breech block W is again hinged away from the block 8.

Should any of the mechanism require attention such asrepair, replacement or maintenance, it isonly necessary to remove the lever 49 from its'overl'apping relationship with the plate 5; disengage the latter from the nuts 5; and unscrewthesaidi nuts, whereupon the bolts 3- and 4 may be: removed to enable the grip portion 2 to be withdrawn from the barrel portion I. Thehammer i2, breech block IE! and extractor I I are then no longer under spring action and may be dis.- assernbl'ed from the. barrel portion I merely by removing the pins I3 and I9, Or, ifdesired, the said; pins- I235. and I9: may be removed prior to separatlonof the portions I and 2. The separation of theportions I and Zalsoexposes the triple purpose three-pronged spring M, and permits or the ready' removal of the-said springrfastening' screw 421. As the sear rod. 39 is no longer anchored at its rear orbreech end, it and the spring 3i may be removedlfrom the platform. 21 merely by: raising the rear or breech end of. therod;

The various components of the. pistol may readily be replaced since, insofar as the breech block Ill; extractor Ill and hammer I2 are: concerned; they are free from spring action when the portions I and 2 are separated, and the. sear rod spring 3:7 tobe compressed: only to. a slightpdegree.

'r'o reassemble the? pistol portions. I and 21 6. after thebreecnbiock. Ii]: and extractor lit have been replaced and: engaged. by their: pin; IJ3 (the grooved end: of which. remains projecting to the the. platformnin' alignment with: thebarrel I and thespringfl located forwardly or: muzzlewards' of the breech: block: H3; extractor: II and pawl assemb1y:. Thus by sliding the grip portion. 2: to take the ctherrlu'g: 28' betweenthe cheeks 9; the bolt. holes: in! the said? lugs 28 and 29' may be brought into the position wherein bolt holes 3a and fibrin thelugs .28;'and.29. (see Figure 6a) reg'-- ister with boltzholest 3b: and ib (see Figure 6) in the said cheelraandtthe'spring'pron'gs 44 M ami ea may be: brought: automatically into contact with: the; breech block-:. I a. extractor I I and pawl"- I5. atlthe. desiredi positions;

The bolts 3: andi lmay then be inserted thr'ough the saidregisteringboltnholes, 3a; 3b and a, so, until; their ends' project beyond the side cheek: 9 which; carries the stud? I8; whereupon the said bolts. may be secured: by the application 1 of the nuts'E to thesaid' projecting ends; the hammer i Zmay be: inserted between the cheeks 9and secured by its pin. I 9: (the grooved end of said pin als obeing positioned to proj ect beyond "the stud carrying side cheekfmf, the'bifurcated end of'said hammer: being able? to engage readily with the crossipin' SI: duei'to" the previous locking'of'tl'ie sear: rod: 38.. Finally the locking plate 5 is en-" gaged=.aroundiand.aga nst the .nuts 5 anditslever" dt 'is. swung into overlapping: relationship-therewithztoxengage the-grooves inthe pins I3 and I9- andin'ithe'stud I8;

Having described my invention. What I claim and desire to secure by-lletterszPatent is:

1. In a pistol, an extractor, a. breach: block. an extractor-operating pawl rotatably mounted ontsaid breech'block, anda one-piece spring com prisin at least three prongs, one of. which loads therextractor; ax secondof which loads the breech block; an'd';.a..third:f of: which loads the. extractoroperatingrpawl:

2;.A; pistol havinganextractor'and a breech block with anpextractor-operating pawl rotatably mounted thereon, thesaid breech block havingra sleeve around: which the: extractor is rotatably' mounted,- andzarecess; in- .therunderside in. which: one: end. of" the. extractor-operating; pawl is rotatablymounted,- a triple-pronged spring-f being mounted withinthe pistol with one-prong load' ing: the breech block; the second prong loadingthe extractor" and the third prong: loading the? extractor operating. pawl.

3., A pistol having an extractor'anda breech blockawith, an extractor.- operating pawl rotatably,

mounted thereon, the said breech block having a .sleeve around which the extractor. is rotatably mounted, anda'recess'in its underside in which one: end .of: the extractor-operating pawl is rotatably mounted in-x'theplane of and below the extractor, the; saidzextractor having a-jawin its underside and:a toe projecting forwardly of said jaw and; the said pawl. having aetooth: on its. upperredge;..a triple-prong-ed:springsmountedr in:

the pistol forwardly of the breech block with one prong thrusting against the underside of the breech block, the second prong thrusting against the extractor toe and tending to rotate the extractor, and the third prong thrusting against the underside of the extractor-operating pawl and tending to rotate the said pawl to take the pawl tooth into engagement with the extractor Jaw.

4. A pistol having an extractor, a breech block and an extractor-operating pawl, said breech block being recessed on its underside and provided, in the said recess, with a sleeve pivotable around a fixed stud, the said extractor being journalled upon said sleeve and the extractor-operating pawl being pivoted at one end in the said recess at the heel of the breech block and projecting below the said extractor, the said extractor having a jaw in its underside and a toe projecting forwardly from the jaw, the said pawl having a tooth on its upper edge and an inclined nose face at its free end, a stud being located in the path along which the said nose is moved by the breech block when the said breech block is pivoted away from the breech of the pistol, a triple pronged spring being mounted in the pistol with one prong thrusting upon the underside of said breech block, the second prong thrusting upon the top of the extractor toe and tending to turn the extractor away from the breech block, and the third prong thrusting against the underside of the extractor-operating pawl and tending to take the pawl tooth into engagement with the extractor jaw, the said engagement being severed by the said fixed stud as the pawl nose is moved along the said path and its inclined face engages and travels under the said stud.

5. A pistol comprising a pivoted breech block, having a recess in its underside, an extractor, having a jaw in its underside and a toe projecting forwardly from said jaw, rotatably mounted within said recess, an extractor-operating pawl, having a tooth on its upper edge and an inclined nose face at one end and being rotatably mounted at its other end in said recess at the heel of the breech block and projecting below said extractor, the said breech block being formed with a flat face on its underside and its forward edge, a triple pronged spring mounted within the pistol with one prong thrusting against one or other of the said fiat faces on the breech block and tending to retain the said breech block resiliently in any position in which it may be set, with a second prong thrusting on the top of said extractor toe and tending to rotate the extractor relatively to said breech block, and with the third prong thrusting against the underside of said pawl and tending to take said pawl tooth into engagement with said extractor jaw to prevent said relative rotation of said extractor, and a stud rigidly mounted within the pistol in the path along which said pawl nose is moved when the breech block is moved away from the barrel breech so that the said inclined face engages and rides under said stud to disengage said tooth from said jaw against the action of said third prong.

6. A pistol comprising a barrel portion in which there are journalled an extractor and a breech block with an extractor-operating pawl rotatably mounted thereon, and a grip portion detachably assembled to said barrel portion and having a platform at its end assembled to said barrel portion and a lug at the forward end of the said platform, a one piece spring being fixed to the crown of said lug, said spring comprising two prongs one of which loads the extractor whereas the other loads the breech block, and a third prong located at a lower level than the said two prongs and loading the extractor-operating pawl, the said third prong being formed with a heel which abuts the side of the said lug laterally of the spring fixing.

7. A pistol comprising a barrel portion in which there are journalled an extractor and a breech block with an extractor-operating pawl rotatably mounted thereon, and a grip portion constructed and arranged to be detachably assembled to said barrel portion and having a platform along its end to be assembled to said barrel portion, a lug being provided at the muzzle end of said platform and a one-piece spring being fixed to the crown of the said lug, the said spring comprising three prongs one of which is arranged to load the breech block, a second is arranged to load the extractor and the third is arranged to load the extractor-operating pawl, and a fixing eye which is off-set relatively to the longitudinal centre line of the spring to prevent assembly of the said pistol portions should the spring be fixed incorrectly to said lug.

8. A pistol comprising a barrel portion having depending lateral side cheeks between which there are journalled an extractor and a breech block with an extractor-operating pawl rotatably mounted thereon, and a grip portion constructed and arranged to be detachably assembled to said barrel portion between said cheeks and having a platform along its end to be assembled to said barrel portion, a lug being provided at the muzzle end of said platform and a one-piece spring, formed at one end with an eye which is off-set relatively to the longitudinal centre-line of said spring, being fixed to the crown of said lug by a screw passing through said eye and engaging said lug, the said screw having a head of a depth such that it closely abuts the underside of the barrel portion when the said portions are in their assembled relationship, and said spring comprising three prongs one of which is arranged to load the breech block, a second is arranged to load the extractor and the third, which is disposed below the level of the said breech block and extractor loading prongs and is formed with a heel which abuts the said lug laterally of the centre of the said fixing eye, is arranged to load the extractor-operating pawl.

9. A pistol comprising a barrel portion having depending lateral cheeks between, which there are journalled an extractor and a breech block with an extractor-operating pawl rotatably mounted thereon, and a grip portion constructed and arranged to be detachably assembled to said barrel portion between said side cheeks and having a platform along its end to be assembled to said barrel portion, a lug being provided at the muzzle end of said platform and a spring, made from a single length of wire and formed at one end with an eye which is off-set relatively to the longitudinal centre line of said spring, being fixed to the crown of said lug by a screw passing through said eye and engaging said lug, the,

said spring comprising three prongs, one lateral prong being arranged to load the breech block, the central prong being arranged to load the extractor and being formed by two portions of the wire located side by side each portion being formed with an upwardly extending coil which bear on the underside of the barrel portion when the said pistol portions are in their assembled relationship, whereas the other lateral prong is arranged to load the extractor-operating pawl,

UNITED STATES PATENTS is located at a lower level than the said breech Number Name Date block and extractor loading prongs, and is formed 141,383 Rider July 2 1873 with a heel which abuts the side of the said lug 5 184,20 Freund Nov. 7, 1876 laterally of the centre of said fixing eye. ,1 e e y Nov. 19, 1878 512,437 Grifliths et a1 Jan. 9, 1894 JOHN BASIL ARROWSMITH. 6 ,10 Burgess Feb. 11, 1902 700,116 Fay May 13, 1902 REFERENCE CITED 10 853, 15 Mondragon May 14, 1907 S 984,519 Browning Feb. 14, 1911 The following references are of record in the 1,276,716 '9W 27, 1913 1,790,320 Rersmg Jan. 27, 1931 file of this patent: 

